Australian maritime authorities have detained two vessels - including one at Port Kembla - for alleged serious labour rights breaches.
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The ships are owned by controversial Qatari shipping company, Aswan Trading and Contracting.
The move comes weeks after the crew on another of the company's ships were driven to hunger strike off the coast of Kuwait.
The International Transport Workers' Federation says the detentions mean that now half of the company's fleet of six ships is out of operation.
According to the ITF, Aswan was blacklisted by shipping regulators in 2017 and its chairman remains wanted by Qatari law enforcement.
It's alleged Aswan left the crew of the Maryam without power and fuel in Port Kembla.
The Maryam was first detained on February 19 in Port Kembla by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) for 36 safety and crew welfare deficiencies.
Once inspectors from the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) boarded the coal carrying ship on March 5, they allegedly found many more reasons to block the ship from leaving Australian waters.
According to the ITF, who spoke to the ship's captain and crew, Aswan Trading and Contracting had failed to pay key contracts to suppliers on a number of recent occasions, leaving the ship without fuel for the engine, power and lighting.
During those periods of three to four days, refrigerators lost power and food had to be thrown out.
With no lighting, air-conditioning, or power to charge mobile phones and communication devices, the lack of fuel and electricity put the crew's welfare and mental health in jeopardy.
The 23 seafarers could not even have showers or flush the ship's toilets - having to lift buckets of water from the sea below.
On March 6, $3000 of food was dropped to the crew at the ITF's insistence by the Port Authority of NSW Port Kembla, including 1000 litres of bottled water, with the crew having just a few days' supply left in the hold.
The ITF said the crew also hadn't been paid properly in the lead-up to their current ordeal.
Several seafarers were being paid well below International Labour Organisation (ILO) minimum wages, and all of the 23-strong crew had yet to receive bonuses due to them.
Before the Maryam is allowed to leave Port Kembla, AMSA has set out a number of "deficiencies" they say Aswan needs to correct.
These include repatriating nine of the crew who are over-contract and want to go home to Turkey, India and Georgia.
The Mercury has contacted Aswan Trading and Contracting for comment.
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Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
